Latvian Political Monitor

Two questions for the Leninists. In communism everything is free. Where is my free education and health quotas? The state 'must provide for me', where is it? A super popular thesis. Half a year ago the Leninists demanded the pension money back. Logically - pensions are paid by the state, so it's free! I was annoyed. Today the Leninists demand to pour fuel cheaper. For each and every one, in a united pioneer row. Clear. Now I am extremely annoyed. But I always try to understand, so two questions. 1) what is 1+1? 2) where did you grow up like this? I saw the Soviet Union, that 'free' thing. I am old. But I have never demanded anything from the state for free. I know that now I pay taxes for other people's pensions and also health quotas go to others. I have never seen 'free' for myself. Neither in collective farm times (then it was through blat, which is not free), nor now. Again, where did you screamers grow up?🫠

Gladly. But on the other side there are expenses for priority areas. Excise tax + VAT finances practically everything, except pensions and the majority of the social package. No one agrees to reduce the money for themselves. Now on top of that, a whole bunch has been promised for the elections. The procedure is such that you first free up the spending side, then you can reduce any tax. And not the other way around.

I wonder what will happen to Sweden when migrant benefits and progressive leftists have wrecked the social system and they no longer have funds for a free life…

@Gaumigais_joks I think that concrete pouring should be stopped, but instead people should be motivated. With a fishing rod, not a benefit.

While in Ukraine, we had the opportunity to participate in the opening of the child protection and support center 'PANDA'. 🇺🇦 Most of all, what stayed with me from this visit was the photo exhibition showing mothers holding phones with photos of their children. A simple way that tells very heavy stories. At the PANDA center, children affected by war and violence will be able to receive legal, psychological, social, and medical help in one place. Being here, we share Latvia's experience with great joy and at the same time learn from Ukraine, so that each of us can provide the fastest, gentlest, and most understandable help possible for children in our own country. 🤝 It is important not only to achieve the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported by Russia, but also to think about what happens afterwards. So that the child does not remain alone with what they have experienced, and so that all involved specialists and institutions can act together, react quickly, and provide the child with exactly the help they need. Thank you to Ukraine's Minister of Justice Denys Maliuska, the PANDA center team, and the people of Ukraine for the opportunity to be present at this significant moment.

Today together with the chairman of the council of @advokaturaLV Saulvedis Vārpiņš, I met with the relatives of the Latvian nationals missing in Nepal. 🇳🇵🇱🇻 Living in uncertainty about a loved one is extremely difficult. I consider it my personal duty to do everything possible so that these families do not have to fight alone with legal and practical issues during this time. We agreed that in cooperation with lawyers, specific legal support will be provided to the relatives. I also call on the heads of state institutions and private service providers to inform their employees and, as far as possible, help resolve the situations that have arisen. There are many of them, starting with mobile operator bills and other everyday payments to mortgage obligations and other processes that the missing person cannot currently handle themselves. More information is available on the homepage of the Ministry of Justice website: https://t.co/Oe3DIQSnR8 And above all we maintain hope that our people will be found and will return home. 🙏🏼

@realNepareizais That's nice, but the budget doesn't have that option. Unless you cut, for example, health, education, or pensions.

I completely agree. This can be done with an 'iron coalition', as hopefully will be the next one. To create a budget that does not give money to everyone, actually stepping over the natural drive, but focuses only on those who are worst off.

Starting from the situation with inheritances from the previous government – 'Air Baltic' and 'Rail Baltica', and ending with pensions and pay for deputies… We had a heart-to-heart talk about such a wide range of issues with entrepreneurs and seniors, meeting in Talsi. Thanks for the meeting and the constructive conversation! https://t.co/iQOLdTNUia

@Jaunumi_ 6.1 billion. You don't take into account the services provided by municipalities, for example. They are not in the special budget, they come from PIT, mostly go to the social sphere.

Mostly some pay taxes, others receive. It's not just here. I've been paying taxes in the private sector for 39+ years. Now I've only been working in the public sector for a few months as an exception. But I've been paying for health services all these years; my money goes to pensioner quotas. It's ok.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE NEPAL TRAGEDY. Current as of 1.09. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs employee has departed to Nepal to carry out coordination work on site to help the families and relatives of the 33 missing 🇱🇻 citizens (earlier information of 43 has been clarified). Yesterday @Braze_Baiba spoke with the Nepalese minister, full support for 🇱🇻, everything needed. From China there is silence for now after the note was sent and the announced call, but today more information may be available. 30 closest blood relatives have provided DNA samples to the State Police, which are being digitally provided to Nepalese rescue services. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened a coordination meeting on 31.08 for state and municipal institutions, defining the range of issues where state and municipal support, involvement, and assistance will be needed if those missing in Nepal are not found, for their relatives: childcare, social assistance, education, health care, and other areas. Representatives of responsible state and municipal institutions will soon prepare useful practical information, which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will then pass to the relatives of the missing, inviting them to contact the relevant institutions. The MFA met by VTC with Israeli experts on victim identification and issues. The MFA met with NGO representatives ready to provide support.

Some kind of madness… https://t.co/1EFRqooCx6

@AlienInLV @Krisjanis_K Support is already arranged, where a decision has been made not to revoke the honorary family 3+ status with the first child, but rather when the youngest grows up.

💶 EUR 26.8 million – money that could potentially go toward the public good. Latvian banks currently hold more than 39,000 long-unused accounts containing a total of approximately EUR 26.8 million. The Saeima has supported in the second reading a clear procedure for how to handle these funds. A client will have 5 years to apply and receive their money. If it is not claimed, the funds will come under state control. This procedure will not apply to Latvian residents, nor to frozen funds, funds seized in criminal proceedings, or funds subject to collection. When this money comes under state control, it must be used meaningfully and in the interests of the whole public! Children are our present and also our future. That is why I propose directing it to the creation of a Safe House for Children and Youth. ℹ️ The bill still needs the Saeima's final approval.

Day No. 58 in the prime minister's chair (Friday) - DeFacto; Bank of Latvia; Aglona; Auto Union V16...

🤝 Close cooperation between the state and local government so that decisions are practical and understandable to residents. With the chairman of Ropaži Municipality, Aivars Draudiņš, we discussed several topical issues: 🔹 The asylum seeker accommodation centre “Mucenieki” – clear and sustainable solutions are needed for the centre’s future operation, taking into account both the safety of residents and the interests of the municipality, as well as the state’s responsibility. 🔹 Orphan court reform – it is important to improve the work of orphan courts and strengthen the protection of children’s rights, clearly dividing responsibility between the state and local governments and reducing the administrative burden. 🔹 Cadastral value reform – it is necessary to ensure a fair, understandable and predictable cadastral assessment system so that changes do not create a disproportionate burden on residents and local governments.

We are strengthening cooperation between the state and municipalities! 🤝 Today with @lps_lv we agreed on further work on four issues important to municipalities and residents. 🏠 1. Social correction system and Safe House for Children and Young People ⚖️ 2. Reform of the operation of municipal administrative commissions 🛡️ 3. Timely reduction of risks for children and young people 🏡 4. Improvement of the cadastral valuation system 💬 State and municipal cooperation must be aimed at a concrete result – a safer environment for children, a clearer system for municipalities and modern solutions for residents. More: https://t.co/xfJW6pZYpn

Day No. 54 in the prime minister's seat – immigration law, hospital reform, energy, and again the old unresolved issues. Today the day started early with a security meeting on the illegal immigration counteraction plan – we will inform the public tomorrow. It is a very good plan and it will be put into effect immediately. But in parallel, several serious issues are on the government's agenda. 🛂 IMMIGRATION LAW / TUA FOR INVESTORS The President has returned to the Saeima for re-review the amendments to the Immigration Law on temporary residence permits for foreign investors. We must make a clear choice – whether we want to fill the state budget mainly with the help of foreign students working at Bolt/Wolt, or whether we are able to attract wealthy people who invest in Latvia, create companies, buy property and pay taxes. I have repeatedly stressed – 🇱🇻 the foundation of national security is a strong economy. For the economy to grow, we ourselves must be brave enough to make bold and competitive decisions. 🏠 The housing stock deficit exists in practically all regions of Latvia. For example, the Vidzeme hospital lacks qualified medical staff also because people who would be ready to work there simply have nowhere to live. My proposal provides: ➖️ an investor who wishes to receive a TUA in Latvia must provide a much greater economic contribution to the state; ➖️ increase the direct payment to the state budget to €50,000 over five years; ➖️ at the same time, ensure real investments in Latvia's economy; ➖️ in the next step, create an opportunity for these people to become Latvian tax residents, paying a fixed €60,000 tax per year – a kind of Latvian tax “subscription”. 📊 If we could attract 1,000 investors this way: ➡️ €50 million directly to the state budget; ➡️ more than €100 million in investments in Latvia's economy; ➡️ in the case of tax residence, up to another €300 million over five years. Total potential contribution – around half a billion euros in five years. That is a completely different scale. 👶 WORKING PARENTS' BENEFIT In the coalition we agreed on amendments to the Maternity and Sickness Insurance Law (initiated by @Jauna_Vienotiba): ➖️ extend the current arrangement regarding the working parents' benefit; ➖️ give new parents a clear signal that support will also be available in the future; ➖️ the Ministry of Finance is tasked with assessing the financial impact of the decision. 🎓 EDUCATION LAW We agree that the assessment system for learning outcomes must be improved. But trying to introduce significant changes by September 1 – that is simply not realistic. We agreed to convene a separate meeting this week that will be entirely devoted to this issue. ⚡ ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE A new government thematic committee on energy, environment and climate issues will be created, with KEM taking overall supervision. There are many questions and unresolved problems here, so much closer coordination between ministries is needed. 🌬️ K2 VENTUM WIND PARK PROJECT IN PĀVILOSTA Again we are faced with decisions taken, or more precisely not taken and postponed, by previous governments. The situation is legally complicated, and wrong decisions can cost the state many millions of euros. ➖️ KEM must take responsibility for its decisions; ➖️ we asked the ministry to assess the issue much more broadly; ➖️ in a week I expect full information and an assessment of possible consequences. It is the responsibility of both officials and the minister to prevent the state from being drawn into extensive and expensive litigation. 🏥 ZZS OBJECTIONS TO THE HOSPITAL REFORM Here again we encountered a familiar situation. In the government, the hospital reform issue has been reviewed and a decision has been made. I also urge ZZS to familiarize themselves in detail with the real situation in hospitals, patient flows, staff availability and funding. Reform cannot be done only on paper, but it can likewise not be stopped just because change is politically unpopular. 🇱🇻 My principle remains unchanged – the state must be able to make decisions. Not to postpone them endlessly to the next government. KNAB has initiated a review of my visit to Zemgale and Liepāja - my answer: come and check. I honestly combined a work visit to Zemgale and Kurzeme to get to know the situation in agriculture and manufacturing, while also meeting residents as the AS prime ministerial candidate in the next elections. As prime minister, my work is 24/7 and there is no other way than to reach voters without combining it with work. If someone wants to nitpick, you are welcome, I will explain and show everything.